Carriage for supporting trays



Feb. 27, 1940. PINTO 2,192,102

CARRIAGE FOR SUPPORTING TRAYS Filed Aug. 12, 1938 Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES CARRIAGE FOR SUPPORTING TRAYS Edward Henry Pinto, London, England Application August 12, 1938, Serial No. 224,631 In Great Britain October 27, 1937 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved hand trolley for restaurant, hospital or domestic use. The primary object of the invention is to provide a hand trolley which will be capable of I holding one or more trays in a readily detachable manner without reducing the effective surface area of the tray or trays.

A further object of the invention is to enable dishes, crockery or other articles to be dispensed or collected expeditiously. Another object of the invention is to provide a hand trolley which will serve a number of uses as will be apparent from the description herebelow, whilst a still further object is to provide a hand trolley in which a tray of a standard pattern may be used, the said trolley being sold with one or more trays, or the trays purchased separately.

The arrangement according to this invention is such that one or more trays can be quickly attached to or removed from the support, and,

moreover, the supported trays can be spacedapart at desired distances, depending on the' height of the articles supported, by suitably arranging the means on the support. The upstanding support may be constructed to support trays extending from both sides thereof.

In order that a clear understanding of the invention may be obtained, reference will now be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a sectional side view of a form of trolley constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a end view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the use of the trolley to support a garment-carrying device.

In the drawing, the trolley comprises a base I which is of rectangular tray-like form and has a swivelled runner 2 at each corner. The base may be used to hold articles, particularly when the trolley is employed for domestic use, cutlery. Secured to each side of the base and near one end thereof is a vertical member or pillar 3,

each said vertical member being afiixed by nut and bolt 4 or other suitable means which will enable the trolley to be transported with the members removed and folded on the base. The members are united by a cross member S, and on the inner face of the vertical members there is provided a set of projecting pins or abutments 6, those of one set being immediately opposite those of the other set to form a number of pairs, the pins of each set being arranged in zig-zag formation, as shown in Figure 1. Each tray, a number of which in the supported position are shown in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with a pair of notches at opposite side at the bottom and a pair of notches at opposite sides at the top. The notches at one side, numbered 7 and 8, respecl tively, are shown in Figure 1 on the trays 9 and it will be observed that the top notch of each tray extending over thebase i takes under a peg or pin to, whilst the bottom pin 62) is received in the bottom notch. The placing in position and :10 removal of a tray is easily accomplished as will be obvious from the drawing. The trays may also be supported on the opposite side of the base as is shown by the tray designated 9b, and to increase stability the uprights are spaced within 15 the length of the base I, and shorter trays may be'provided for use in such position. In the case of trays so supported, the pins 612 enter the notches 8 and-the pins 6a the notches 1. Any other suitable means, such as tongues and 20 grooves, ledges or the like for supporting the trays, and suitable locking means, such as spring catches, plungers or the like, for locking same may be provided.

In addition to use as above, the device is par- 25 ticularly suitable for use as a tab-1e to overlie a bed. In this case, a single tray only is supported at a position to suit the height of the bed. Likewise, the device can be used to provide a table extending across achair for use when taking meals or Working. One or more trays may also be provided to be used in an inclined position so,

as to be used as a book-rest. One convenient manner of efiecting' suchinclined position is to provide a rectangular book-rest having clips or 35 U-like members set at an incline with respect to the book-rest surface, said'clips or members engaging the trays, e. g., the peripheral rims thereof. The clips may also be constructed to permit of angular adjustment. 4

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, a garment-supporting and personal wardrobe device is Shown supported by the upright. 'Such device includes coat hangers l0, cupboard ll, trousers supports 12, tray l3 and 45 mirror l4. With such a device, the usual trays are not in position, it being understood, however, that the use of the trolley with such trays is the primary object of the invention, and other devices may be utilised in place of the garment- 50 supporting device.

I claim:

11. A rack or carriage for supporting trays for restaurant, hospital or domestic use, comprising a base, two upright members mounted on said 55 base, one at each side thereof, the said members presenting relatively broad inner faces, each of said members having a set of inwardly projecting pins arranged in zig-zag relation with those of one set opposite those of the other set, whereby a tray may be inserted from either side of the uprights to engage the inner faces of the uprights and be supported by its bottom bearing on one pin of each member, while the upper edge of the tray will bear against the under side of the next pin above to support the tray in cantilever fashion.

2. A rack or carriage for supporting trays for restaurant, hospital, or domestic use, comprising, a base, uprights secured to each side of the base and in transverse alinement, and a pair of vertically arranged rows of inwardly projecting abutments carried by the inner side of each upright, the abutments of one row being horizontally disalined with respect to the abutments of the other row to provide tray-receiving spaces each member while the upper edge of the tray 10 will bear against the under side of the corre- ,sponding related abutments above said first mentioned abutments to support the tray in cantilever fashion.

EDWARD HENRY PINTO, 15 

